Method of printing photographically.



Patented May 2, 1916.

WTNESSES UNITED STATES rATE oFFroE.

HERBERT MORRIS PILKINGTON, F ARVRNE, NEW YORK. ASSIGNOR. BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO LITHOTEX CORPORATION, OF NEW YORKv N. Y., A CORPORA-TION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OF PRINTING PHOTOGRAPHICALLY.

Application led November 1` 1912, Serial No. 729,023.

To all reliant it may concern lie it known that 1. Hmnnnrr Blomus'liiailxtrrox, a eitizen ot' the United States,

and a resident of rverne. Long Island..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Renewed April 1T. 1915. Serial No. 22,194.

spacing as the several designs on the plate. or a ditierent spacing, asma v be desired, it being only necessari' tor some classes of work withdiseonneeted designs. that the eountv of Queens, and State of New York`spacing on the tinal printingl plates be aeeuhave invented a certain newand useful Imratelv predetermined so that the Con-9,-

provenient in Methods of Printing lhosponding designs on the ditterentprintino mgmphimpy 0f which the following is aI plates for multiplecolor work will exaetl; specification.` inateh up or register.

'l`his invention relates to a method of lt has been proposed tophotographieallv 65 printing photographically5 and moreparp rint orreproduee a design a number oit tieu|arl \v to printing two or moretimes tunes on a sensitized 'surface trom a unit upon a sensitizedsurface a design or dephotographie plate bearing sneh design bv signsformed on a photographie or other means ot' what is known as a step andrevplate 'through which light rays may be peat machine. B v means otIsueh a machine. 70 .mlmttmL images ot the design on the photographie Inmost photo-lithographie work it is deplate are projeeted upon thesensitized surA sirable to have the design of which prints taee inaeeuratel)v spat-ed positions. 1n the are to be made. reproduced anumber otl most aeeurate and rapidhv operating step times upon theprinting surtaee in order to and repeat maehinesr sin-h as that shownprint iotf in'one operation as manv prints in ['nited States Letterslatent Number o'reo'pies as possible. 1t is desirable in 1.131.631. torstep and repeat maehine. single eolor or blaek-and-white-printing. togranted on the 9th da \Y ot' Marci-h. 15115.' aeeuratelv square up andspaee the ditt'erupon an application filed bv me. when it 3.3 entreprmluetions ofthe design or designs is desired to plaee a verv largenumber ot fi's'tdoseli` vas possible upon the plate in order designs ona sensitized surtaee. it' the mafo utilize as mueh of the printingsurface ehine is not rapidl \v operated. the wet.

ossihle. and in multiple eolor work. it plates" used may beeome dr vbefore th@l is neeessarv tor good work. that the printcompletion ot' thestep and repeat oper- 3 iiig plates eaeh hearing a number of reproation:and even it the more expensive dry 85 duetions ot different designs orof eomplates" are used or the maehine operated ponent parts of the samedesign. one tor with sutlieient rapidity for the use ot `v-wet eaeheolor. should have eorresponding replates..` the initial eost ot thestep and reproduetions oth the designs aeenratelv spaeed peat iuaehinet'or handlingr verv large plates` on them so that in printing from theplates. and the time required in reprodueing the these eorrespondingdesigns will eoineide or design a great number ot times bv means matthup in order that the eolors will blend of the maehine. makes it vasti)more or tit one upon the other to give the .de-` eeonomieal to utilize mv present invention sired'eolor etl'eet. in forming large design plates.

A\l.v invention eousists in a simple. quiek liv means ot nrv new methodot printing and eeonomitl method of |)hotographieallv the designs. thenumber of reproduetions printing down or reprodueing upon a senof thedesign mav be doubled in a single sitized surtaee. a design or designson a exposure with the reproduetionsaeeuratel)v photographie or othersuitable plate in sueh spaced. and. as hereinafter pointed out. themanner that the prints trom said plates on reprmluetions ot the designstrom a relathe sensitized surtaee will have an areurate tively smallphotographitl plate-whieh depredetermined spat-ing. so thatiit thedesigns |na \v be plaeed thereon bv means of sign on the plate be acontinuous one. the the step and repeat maehine ean be print- 'designupon the sensitized surtaee when de- `ed direetlv upon a metal plate having a sen veloped. will appear eontinuous and unsitized surt'aee whirhmav then be de- 105 broken as on the plate trom whieh it was veloped.rolled up. and ett-hed. as is well printed: and il'V the designs on theplate be understood in the art. so as to be transspaeed apart orseparate. the reproduetions4 formed direetlv into a printing plate: ofthe design-bearing plate upon the sensiwhereas. in the step and repeatmaehiue it tized surtaee mai have e\'aetl v the same would be moredesirable and better praetiee 110 (usually a negative) bearing a designor de- Y signs which are to be reproducedrand having suitably spacedregister marks formed thereon, and I place in a suitable printing frame.a plate of metal. stone or glass having a sensitized surface upon whichthe de` signs are to be printed, and uponv this 'I place thephotographic negative plate and expose the same to a suitable source oflight while protecting from light'rays'the part of the sensitizedsurface not covered by the negative. I then render visible rthe registermarks reproduced'on'the sensitized surface adjacent the unexposedportion thereof, orif such marks are' visible b'i'itfnot sufficienttvsoto be plainly seen'through-the. negative plate, I render therriinoreIplainly visible. and then b v meansfof'sa'izd visible marks and themarks on the'fother'end'of the negative plate, I place thenegativeolatel upon the adjacent unexpos'ed'part o the sensitizedsurface witli said registermai-ks on the negative plate registering'withthe developed register marks on th'eflsensitized surface; and Ithen make asccond'exp'osure while protectingr from light ays'the pre`v viou'slyl exposed portion'k of the sensitized surface'v and the.remaining unexposed-'portions, if there be any, and so von',"ea'ch timeaccurately placing the negativeplatel upon the sensitized As iirface bymeans of :the-register marks on the plate and the 'visible registermarks on'the' previously exposed pori tion ofthe sensitizedsurface.'Inthis way as large a printing surface s'de'sired'may be very rapidlyand economically drepared with the different reproductions vof 4thevdesigns most accurately spaced thereon.

In the present manner ofp'ra'ctisingthe invention, thesensitizedsurfaces used are of such a character that the portions'of thesensitized surface exposed to the light rays will, after exposure,;haveaVfaint orange color, so that after an exposure ofthes'en'sitized surfacethrough the negative plate, the portions of the designs and the registermarks through which' the light vrays have been transmitted, will befaintly visible but not sufficiently visible to be accurately detectedwhen viewed through the negative plate for the purpose of placing saidplate in its next position on the sensitized-surface; and in order torender certain of the register marks more plainly visible or, in otherwords, to develop them, a little lithographie ink is applied to themarks, which are then wiped with a moistened brush or the tips of theoperators fingers, whereupon the ink will be removed from the portion ofthe sensitized thereon without further treatment. 'thus be seeirthat.with the use ofisome sensurface surrounding the marks which wasnotcxposed to the light rays. thus leaving the register marks blackandfplainly visible. lt isproliable that with some sensitized surfacesthe register marks will not appear visible at all to the naked eye.after exposure: but the portions of the sensitized siii'- face whichwere covered by the marks on the negative plate may be suitably treated,as is well understood in the art. to` rendei' said marks visible. If thesensitizing solution used is one containing one or more of the haloidsalts. the register marks on the sensitized surface. upon removal of theneg ative'platc after exposure. will appear sutliciently visible for thepurpose of matching 'I the register marks of the negative plate It willsitizing solutions. it ma)v notbe necessary to treat' the register marksto develop 'or bring them -out:V but wherever in the ap-l pended claims-I have used the word de-l velop or.developinmI wish to be understoodasmeaning Ithe treatment of invisible marks on the sensitized surface todevelop them or render them visible, or ,the .treatment of faintlyvisible register marks to develop themorwrender them more plainlyvisibles-d :fx a;

I have found'in )ractice that it is preferable, in forming-largeprinting plates, to make, by-means 'of a step and repeat machine aphotographic negative plate bearfv ing a Certain number of'reproductions ofithe design and with-register marks thereon, the numberof reproductions thus formed oir-the negative platedepending upon thesize of the designsbeing reproduced and the final number desired; and tothen use the photographic negative thusformed as a photqL graphicdesign-bearing plate, and print fromthis relatively small negative plateupon thev final sensitized metal or other surface in accordance. with mypresentfinven; tion. The final plate may then be developed. rolled Vupand etched to 1transform it into a printing surface. A suitable machinefor carrying out my invention as now practised isshown in theaccompanying drawings,fin whichgf,

Figure 1 shows a printing frame lfor receiving the sensitized surfaceand the photographic plate; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken online 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing frame; Fig. 'sh'ows a zinc plate `in thecourse of preparation with two impressions from one negative, and withthe negative in position thereon: and Fig. 4 shows a zinc plate havingtwo impressions thereon from a photographic plate bearing a continuousdesign.

The printing apparatus consists of a suitable box 1, the bottom l ofwhich forms a suitable vacuum pump connected tothe l a support in whichthe sensitized printing plate '3. preferably of zinc. and thephotographic plate or negative l rest. rl`he box is provided with a padof rubber 5 having a rubber beading (waround its edges. and a suitableframing piece. 7 and a sheet of glass S fit within the box vso as tohold the sensitized surface and the negative in place. The frame issupported in any convenient inanneif and preferabliY on triinnions 9 sothat the frame inav he swnngin different positions.

The negative plate l has a number of reproductions of a unit design 10thereon. and

suitable register marks ll-ll which are preferably formedphotographicallyfon the plate in the stepping,r and repeating of theunit designsthereon. lThis negative-plate.`

say of-half the size of the desired printing surface.V is placed in'tlieprinting appi'iratus' 1' on'top 'of the sensitized surface ofthezinc'-platef'which Irestsv upon the rubberblanketii The poi'tionoff-"tlie'sensitized "surfacemotf' covei'edjby 'the negative plateisthen corl ei'ed"by a suitable opaque' mask 12,"fand 'the vframing'pie'ce/i' 'with the glass 'plate' 8 is then placed in positionin the frame so that i" its edges` rest on 'the beading G of therubberlpad; fand'itlis fastenedin position bysuit-' ablecatchesa'l.I A.'suitable tubei 14' con!) ii'ects the'space between the rubber blanket.

and th'ef'glass plate S with a' vacuum pump 1,5 by'means' of :which airis exhausted -fi-oi'ii" i betweenE theriibbei' pad and the glass' plate.

therebyl causing the rubber'padg-fthe zinc plate', thenegative and the-yglass plate 'to'- p ybe firmly pressed together. andI the'negativevand-zinc plate lto'A be, held securely inf posi fclie "sensitizedsurface has been suflicientlj' exposed, the light is shut off fromtheprinting.T frameand thel fia'me is opened andthe f negative Aandv themask removed. "The two rcgistermarks 16' now printed upon thesensitizedsurface from the register marks 11 of the negative plate.may,` with the rest of the design, appear in a faint orange toneg?whereupon tlieoperator moistens -his .fingei'f ora brush withlithographie ink. and'daubs` iton'tlie marks. and then moistens his:finger:

with water and daubs the niark again. wliereupon the ink is removed fromthe unexposed part l'oftheplate and the `niark is rendered bla'ck soIthatit will be plainliv visible through thenegative plate. The negativeplateis then placed over the unexposed portion ofthe sensitized surfacewith its register marks 11 registerimgr with the developed registermarks 1G on the sensitized surface. and the mask is transferred to theformer position of the negative plate. whereupon the pai-ts are againclamped in position and a second exposure made.

1t will be understood that it is immaterial to my invention whether amask be used to protect the part of the sensitized surface not covered bv the negative plate. or the source of light be so arranged andprojected as to be confined to the negative plate, or the uncoveredportion. of the sensitized surface protectedin any-other suitable mannernow known.

It will be observed that in Fig. 25. the spacing between the two'reproductions or prints from the negative plate is greater than thespacing between the several designs of the. negative plate, while inFig. J.. it will he observed-that the design is continuoiiswithout anybreak therein: and from these drawings it will he apparent tliatl-thevspacing between the two reproductions of theznegative .platemay be madeequal 4to the.' spacingsbetween the several designs of the-plate, ormade different therefrom "as-desired. z But inlall cases, the two ormore reproductions will have an exact l'ii'edeterinined spacing, so thatin different plates ".thus :made for multiple color work. thecorresponding reproduced units will register one with the. other.

"hilefl 4have described my invention using a negative photographic platewith the designs formed thereonphotographically, it will-be obvious'thatin v invention may be practised withgany .plates having one. or moredesigns placed thereon by any suitable register marks photographicallyor otherwise formed thereon s0 long as the register marks will'bereproduced on the sensitized siii-face with the design from the plate.

l Having thus described in v invention. what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is:

'1. The method of photograpliicall)y printingfroni a design-bearingplate two or niort` tiines upon ar'sensitized surface the design ordesigns on said plate.l which comprises placing. in front of a-portioiiof a sensitized surface aV design-bearing plate through which lightrays'ma'v be transmitted and having register marks oii differentportions thereof. makinga photographic print of said design or designsandlregister marks from said plateonto the sensitized surface. placingthe plate in front of an adjacent portion'of the sensitized surface andadjusting the plate and sensitized surface relatively by theregistration of certain of the register marks` on the plate with certainof the marks printed on the sensitized surface from the plate. and Athenmaking another print from the plate onto said sensitized surface.

2. The method of photographically printing two or more times` upon asensitized surface from a design-bearing plate the design or designs onsaid plate, which coinprises plat-ing` in l'ront of a portion ol' asensitized-surlaee a transparent design-hearing plate having registermarks near opposite ends thereof. making a photographie print ot'said-design or designs and register marks l'rom said plateontolthesensitized sllrl'aee. while proteeting from light; ra'vs theportion Ull the sensitized sllrtaee not rovered h v the plate,developingaeitain ol' the register marks thus printed on the sensitizedsurlaee from the register marks near one end of the transparent iplate.plaeing the plate in front of an atljae'ent--portiou. of the sensitizedsurfaee and :uljustiugthe plate and sensitized surfaee relatively liythe, registration of eertain of'the registeranarks near-one end of theplate with tfhe develojwd,r register marks. and thenfmakiug 4asee',ond

print from the plate. onto the-sensitized sur-U (itl fat-ewhileprotettiug from Vlightazrays fthe `portion of the sensitizedsurfaee, not eovered. h.\tl.u"l late. ,1 'f' i f *l f i printi ingsueeessivelv. upon ditferent vptntions of'v a sensitized sui-farea'designor,designs-of a photographie plate having register marks atopposite ends thereof. whielL'comprisesplaring the photographieplate-.upon a porf tion ofthesensitized surfa'ee.andfmakingl'ap `farethe register marks on the'photographie.

plate opposite the end from whieh the Vnatehing marks on the 'sensitizedsurfaee lwere printed. and then ma kin.r a seeond photographie print ofthe designer designs upon this unexposed portion.of; the, sensi, tizedsurfaee while proierting fromffinfther exposure the portion of thesensitized sur-` fare -previousljV exposed. i i

l. The .method of printing designs two. or more times upon a sensitizedsurfaee. to he developed into a direet printing surface.V whiehromprises plaeing upon a portion of a sensitized surfare a negativephotographie plate with one or more reproduetions of the design and withregister marks.photographieall v formed thereonmaking a photographieprint' of said design or designs and register marks from said plate ontothe sensitized surfaee of the plate to he developed into a direetprinting surfaee ,while proterting l'roni light ra \'s the portion ofthe sensitized surlare not rovered h'v the negative i plate. developingeertain of the register marks thus printed on the sensitized surtarefrom eertaiu of the register marks of the negative plate. plaeing thenegative plate on an adjareut portion of the, sensitizedl surfaee andadjusting the plate and sensitized surfare relatively lrv theregistration otlrertain of the register marks of the4 plate with thedeveloped register marks ou the sensitized surl'aregand then making aserond print from the negative plate onto the sensitized surfarev whileproteeting from light vrays the portion of the sensitized surl'aeenot'rovered yh v the plate. y

5..;'l7he I net'hodof photographieall printingsueeessivelv uponditlerent portions of a sensitized surfarea` design or designs of aphotographie..plate having register marks at; opposite ends thereof.whit-lrkeomprises plaringrthe photographie plate upon and in dire. et.rontaet :with a portion of the, sensitized jsurl'aee.jjiroduriug avaeuum hetween the sensitized su-rlare and the photographi(- plate tohriug them into dirert eonlart and holdxt-hem frourrelative movement.exposing to liglit-raj'stlle portion of the sensitized surfare thuseoveredlrv the photographie plate to make a pl'iotographie print of saiddesign (Air-designs and register marks from saidplate ontol thesensitized surfaee while proteeting -v-fronmexposure the portions of thesensitized;surfaee not eovered h v the plate., developing the registermarks thus printed on the sensitized surfaee adjaeent anV unexposedportion thereof to he next' printed upon. .plaeing the photographie'plateaipon the a'djaeent unexposed portie of the sensitized surfaee andadjusting it. in position thereon with respeet to the previous printthusmade. h v matehing upon the register marks thus developed the registermarks at- ,the end of the plate opposite thevenes froln whieh thedeveloped marks were printed. and-againvproduring a vaeuum hetween thesensitized surfaee and the photographie plateto hold them into diverteontaetland fromrrelative movement. and photographiealljvsprinting the.design or designs from the plate ontothe portion of the. Sensitizedsui-fare rovered liv the plate while proteeting from exposure the otherportions of the sensitized surfare whit-h have. heen previouslv exposedo are to he exposed.

ln testimony whereof` 1 have signed my name to this speeilieation. inthe presenee of two snhserihing witnesses.

HERBERT .'llORltlS llhlUNGTN. \Vitnesses:

.\. M. llxYwxim. llxnorn ll. `qtxnroxs.

